EZZY

have had a couple of hours free this arvo..... so i have decided to do the CAI.
got all the tools ready and found out that i have left the intake tube at home.... so grabbed all the tools i need and went home..... this is the "drive-way" job :D

front bar removed


front bar sitting on something to prevent from scratching


removed the vertical plastic bit, the horzontial plastic bit and the white form bit (all plastic clips) and pull the factory intake system away from the factory airbox.
Unplug small diameter tube from the factory intake system to free the whole unit.


direct view from outside, you can see the K&N ram pod filter

EZZY

factory intake system totally removed


remove the factory airbox. this is the bottome half of the airbox.
remove the soft formy bit, and clean the sticky bits off it.


bottom half of the airbox, the intake tube and cloth tape (aka. race tape)


the intake tube goes in nicely into the factory airbox air inlet.

EZZY

use the cloth tape and seal the gaps off on the outside to give it a "total sucktion" system.


replace the airbox back onto the car and run the intake tube through the required places. (close up view)


further away view


trim the intake tube to the right length, and use cable ties to secure it properly

EZZY

now with vertical plastic and white form bits replaced. left the horzontial plastic bit out. did have any soft black mesh, so will get some and put it on the end of the tubo later on when i have proper mesh grill for the oil cooler


this "mouth" and mesh were part of the factory airbox items, was thinking of putting it at the end of the tube, but it didnt look stealth when the front bar on.


front bar on, with intake tube right behind the grill, had to cut about 7 diamonds to get all the air in (the first 3 diamonds were in the wrong place :p ).
its quite stealth, you cant really see it unless you know it there and look hard :D


the result:
well worth the time and effort.... should've done this earlier
i have purposely left it after the recall flash, so i can butt dyno the before (20 degrees) and after (21 degrees) results with whatever the current flash.
with the "clean" K&N ram pod, the 8 feels more responsive down low, especially between 2-3.5k rpm range, redlines quicker, and the engine sounds awesome .
might take it out tonight for a night testing.... should be more fun with colder air :D

playa78

wow. nice installation.. it's raining outside though
it won't have any problem with water going in would it??

the middle picture looks like an elephant trunk heheh :D

10kRPMS

Nice pics, Great Job

XDEEDUBBX

THE RX8 *****!!!!

DMRH

Home grown ingenuity & comprehensive pictorial report.

All I can say is (cue Montgomey Burns voice) "Exxxxcelent"....

Wildcard

Nice job! Where did you get the intake tube from and how big is it? The best I could find was 3 inch tube from memory, so I had to use two side by side.

I agree it is a cheap but worthwhile mod.

lennon

Nice 'elephant trunk' there ...... I mean CAI...hehhehh :D

EZZY

it wouldnt suck up water normally... unless you drive through a deep puddle of water. the tube is on abit of an angle (facing down) too :D

yes, it does look like an elephane trunk.... was waiting for someone to mention that! hahahaaa :D

yes, that one too.... hahahaa

thanks dave!

got it from supercheap, it is 80mm tube made by Monza. it comes in blue and red as well. very well made.

yes it is, and im glad i have finally pulled my fingers out of my back side and done it. it made a noticeable difference at lower RPM range, was more fun driving during the gtg today, and the engine sound's awesome :D

Wildcard

So it is the same tube as mine... Yours just looked bigger when connected directly to the airbox. Get yourself a "twin system" EZZY! :D

EZZY

i know i am..... hahahaaaaaa :D :D :D

how is your twin system connected to the factory airbox outlet?

Wildcard

It's not.

I just shoved the tubes in the hole as best I could. Not quite as tidy as your's Ezzy, but functionally I think the end result is the same. Besides, no one was ever meant to see that part... (until now!)

Revolver

Okay, I'm happy to 'fess up to being mechanically challenged so I'll ask the dumb questions? :o

1. What does CAI stand for?

2. What does this mod do - get more air into the motor? Is the standard airbox too restrictive?

3. Does the ECU or whatever it is that controls the fuel/air mix affected by this mod?

Be gentle - some of us aren't as well connected and don't read enough car mags. :D

dracoMJB

CAI = Cold Air Intake.

Designed to ensure that cold air gets into the engine rather than warmer air by ensuring the intake is of air that hasn't been warmed by the engine compartment. I have no idea whether the ECU will adjust based on temp but engines are known to perform better with colder air, presumably the ECU will notice this and adjust fuel mixture etc.

Revolver

Thanks for that clear, concise and non-judgmental explanation.

Is this strictly a DIY mod or has some enterprising chappie come up with an aftermarket kit?

<note to self - must spend some time in the technical threads and try and learn something before being put to sleep> :D

dracoMJB

I think a lot of them are DIY but in the past I've seen CAI kits for the MX-5, maybe there are some available for the RX-8.

EZZY

the ones wildcard and I did are purely DIY. very simple to do (time consuming).
im happy to lend a hand if you want Dave.
Taka has a "***** style" off-the shelf setup... (sorry cant remember the name)
its here
https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...7&page=1&pp=15

Revolver

Ouch - my head hurts . Followed link after link in each of the threads (starting with the link you posted - thanks ). Now have a greater understanding of what is being achieved but an even deeper appreciation that as a tech head I make a great lawyer! :D .

I'll have a think about it. Many thanks for your kind offer to help me out Eric. Will keep you posted.

Anyone at the Nats with this kind of thing, would be grateful if you would bring it to my attention so I can have a look 'in the metal' so to speak and have a chat with you about it.

Marlew

CAI;
Cold Air Intake

CarlRX8

Great job Ezzy

Might try this idea on my rx8

Carl

Revolver

Welcome Carl and Marlew.

Hymee

iTrader: (1)

Nice workmanship and tech writeup. Well done!

Although I am still conservative when I come to be convinced this is doing a better job than the stock CAI. The way I look at it, the stock CAI is sealed from the hot engine bay air, and draws cool air in from a "gentle" (low turbulence) area behind the bumper.

Anyway - keep up the great work. It is indeed enjoyable doing this sort of thing!

Cheers,
Hymee.

rotarenvy

great how to ezzy.

not knocking this style of mod, but without a good duct I doubt it works.
I tried removing the std cold air pipe to see if it would do anything.
I also removed the bottom plastic sheld so air could reach the filter directly from the lower ducts. it made lots of noise and low rpm seemed slower. high rpm didn't feel much better.